One-Punch Man has been steadily back on track with the Neo Heroes Saga and Ninjas Arc fully redrawn and continuing to catch up with the path carved by ONE's webcomic. But despite the end goal of the series seemingly being an inevitable fight between Saitama and God, the ambiguous potential of the deity's escape from extradimensional imprisonment makes this future unclear. Instead, the more compelling possibilities of Saitama's battle against God in One-Punch Man lie in the limits of the eldritch being's vessels as truly worthy opponents.
God was introduced to One-Punch Man through the Monster Association Arc as a corruptive influence capable of bestowing immense and divine powers to worthy vessels. His desire, which he tries to carry out through characters like Garou and, more recently, Empty Void, is to cleanse Earth of humanity which he believes to plague its surface. But while defeating God or preventing any potential vessels from harnessing his power could end the biggest latent threat in the franchise, it might not necessarily be the end of Saitama's character arc or that of others in One-Punch Man.
One-Punch Man's Heroes Have Been Fighting God Through His Proxies
Void Is Currently the Latest Recipient
With Empty Void's resurfacing causing One-Punch Man's top S-Class hero trouble in the Ninjas Arc, the latest demonstrations of God's powers hint that he's already finding vessels capable of carrying out his will. With the Dimension Slash shown cutting through all matter, including deep into the Earth's crust, Void has destructive power as God's latest vessel. Alongside his skills in interdimensional travel and decades of training, Void is potentially all One-Punch Man needs for a God-tier endgame threat. With Void able to absorb Blast's powers of darkness, little seems to stand in his way other than Saitama.
With Saitama's power directly standing in the way of God's goals, it's equally possible that God could see Saitama as a potential vessel, whether he'd ever agree to it.
However, as with most fan predictions about One-Punch Man, everything leads back to the possibility of Saitama's confrontation with God. While there's nothing concrete to suggest they'll fight, with Saitama's power directly standing in the way of God's goals, it's equally possible that God could see Saitama as a potential vessel, whether he'd ever agree to it, meaning he'd have to protect him as an asset. Finally, just like with any opponent in the series, even those immensely empowered, such as Cosmic Fear Garou, nothing has stood in the way of Saitama with his limiter removed.
Fighting God seems like the only possibility, but the series has progressively introduced more worthy vessels of God's powers, and there's not been an indication that God is even inclined to fight directly. With corruptible characters like the former partner to the no. 1 hero and legions of other possible worthy vessels among the S-Class heroes or Neo Heroes, it could all be a matter of God's worthiest vessel being Saitama's true final opponent. But with God's powers still not fully understood, it's uncertain who could be next in line to inherit his abilities or to what extent.
A God Fight May Not Necessarily Complete Saitama's Character Arc
One-Punch Man Has More Going on Than Saitama's Development at This Point
One-Punch Man has done well to introduce other types of threats to Earth beyond those empowered by God or Monster Cells, with the Neo Heroes Saga still ongoing in the webcomic. God seems to be the worthiest potential adversary for Saitama in a fight. Still, given how the series is written, it seems inevitable that Saitama's lack of a limiter will result in the fight being a series of Serious Punches with the potential to shatter dimensions and transcend time. A final fight with God could eliminate the overarching interstitial threat in One-Punch Man, but won't resolve Saitama's other struggles.
God also likely sees the risk of fighting Saitama directly, so using vessels for his powers may also be a conscious choice.
For one, removing the worthiest possible opponent would echo Saitama's ennui from One-Punch Man chapters #1-3, with his overwhelming strength not only being boring but having no further purpose. God also likely sees the risk of fighting Saitama directly, so using vessels for his powers may also be a conscious choice. But one other fun, true adversary for Saitama may already exist.
Saitama Already Has One Opponent Who Can Give Him More Trouble Than God
The King of Fighters
One of the best characters in One-Punch Man is ironically one of its biggest cowards, with King being the only hero technically to run undefeated against Saitama. This is the case with their countless fighting game bouts, where Saitama's limitless strength is irrelevant, and his utter lack of true skill shines through as an example of how much he still stands to learn from others. In addition to Saitama's frustrations with being the strongest hero around while earnestly wishing to learn and grow, his matches against King are played to hilarious effect in One-Punch Man as his most infuriating opponent.
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While it may be frustrating that Saitama's ultimate opponent might be off the battlefield, it's arguably closer to the point of the series, where Saitama's obsession no longer lies in becoming stronger but in finding a genuinely earned victory. As other heroes like Genos grow their fighting abilities, and the Hero Association finds dangerous and potentially malicious rivals in the Neo Heroes group, Saitama's goals may seem far more trivial but work on a similar level. Without a worthy opponent like God in One-Punch Man, Saitama must find a victory that'll truly thrill him and instill a sense of achievement.
One-Punch Man
Created by ONE , Yusuke Murata
First Film One-Punch Man: Road to Hero
Cast Makoto Furukawa , Kaito Ishikawa , Max Mittelman , Zach Aguilar , Robbie Daymond , Hikaru Midorikawa , Marieve Herington , Laura Post , Rich Brown
Video Game(s) One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows , One-Punch Man: Road to Hero
English (US) ·